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Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’. (John 14: 6)
‘Come, follow me’, Jesus said. (Mark 1: 17)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10: 13).
A thought
We have been visiting historical villages and towns in southern Spain. Built centuries ago before the advent of cars, the streets twist and turn through the narrow gaps between houses. At ground level, it is difficult to navigate without a detailed map. Even when viewed from a vantage point above, through the mass of rooftops only the broader plazas can be seen, where the restaurant tables sprawl across the paving.
Nevertheless many residents possess cars or motorcycles, and a thoroughfare is required through the buildings for entry and exit. On certain walls are placed clear signs to direct motorised traffic along the bespoke route and no other. Despite tight turns and steep ascents, traffic finds its way through the labyrinth.
The route to heaven can seem complicated. Like the narrow streets, other faiths raise high barriers of necessary behaviour and mis-directed sacrifice which obscure the view of a loving and compassionate God. Like the plazas, the secular world offers tempting indulgences to distract pilgrims from their intended destination.
Jesus came to earth to mark out a clear route through the obstacles created by mankind. At every turn he puts up a simple sign that reads ‘This way - Believe in Me’.
Through tight turns and steep gradients we may sometimes question when we might reach our destination, but we never need doubt that we are on the right route, or where we will end up.
Jesus himself has walked the route before us.
A map
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